Penn State Football: Position grades vs Kent State

By Dylan Burd | Sep 18, 2018

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws a pass for a touchdown against the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 15, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Woody Barrett #15 of the Kent State Golden Flashes is sacked by the Penn State Nittany Lions defense during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 15, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

The defensive line played its best game of the season, and it wasn’t even close. To start, Kent State was held to just1.1 yards per rushing attempt and just 41 total rushing yards on 37 attempts. That performance was night and day compared to the Pitt game where the defensive line helped allow over 200 yards rushing in the first half alone.

Furthermore, the defensive line had six sacks on the day, two from defensive end Shareef Miller, two from true freshman defensive end Jayson Oweh, and one from defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, who has been one of the Nittany Lions’ best defensive players this season.

Miller and Gross-Matos each had an additional tackle for loss aside from their sacks. Defensive end Shaka Toney had a half a tackle for loss, and sophomore defensive tackle Ellison Jordan had a sack.

The defensive line has shown their potential, the question is, will the defensive line be this effect when they face an NFL offensive line vs. Ohio state and Wisconsin?

Grade: A+

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